used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading By skilful inquiry he ascertained a good deal about precious stones, both in their crude and their finished states.
accommodatingadjectiveUS /əˈkɑːmədeɪtɪŋ/
helpful in bringing about a harmonious adaptation
From this reading The accommodating Frenchman showed him a good many samples of South African, Brazilian, and Indian stones, and explained to him the various tests which were used to determine their value.
AfricanadjectiveUS /ˈæfrəkən/
of or relating to the nations of Africa or their peoples
From this reading The accommodating Frenchman showed him a good many samples of South African, Brazilian, and Indian stones, and explained to him the various tests which were used to determine their value.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
accomplishment of an objective
From this reading WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RUE BARBETTE Pending Fairholme's arrival, Brett was not idle.
ascertainedadjectiveUS /ˌæsərˈteɪnd/
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading By skilful inquiry he ascertained a good deal about precious stones, both in their crude and their finished states.
BARBETTEnounUS /bɑːrˈbet/
(formerly) a mound of earth inside a fort from which heavy gun can be fired over the parapet
From this reading WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RUE BARBETTE Pending Fairholme's arrival, Brett was not idle.
the two together, not just one
From this reading By skilful inquiry he ascertained a good deal about precious stones, both in their crude and their finished states.
BrazilianadjectiveUS /brəˈzɪljən/
of or relating to or characteristic of Brazil or the people of Brazil
From this reading The accommodating Frenchman showed him a good many samples of South African, Brazilian, and Indian stones, and explained to him the various tests which were used to determine their value.
Brett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RUE BARBETTE Pending Fairholme's arrival, Brett was not idle.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By skilful inquiry he ascertained a good deal about precious stones, both in their crude and their finished states.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
crudeadjectiveUS /kruːd/
not carefully or expertly made
From this reading By skilful inquiry he ascertained a good deal about precious stones, both in their crude and their finished states.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading By skilful inquiry he ascertained a good deal about precious stones, both in their crude and their finished states.
determineverbUS /dəˈtɜːrmən/
establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
From this reading The accommodating Frenchman showed him a good many samples of South African, Brazilian, and Indian stones, and explained to him the various tests which were used to determine their value.
diamondsnounUS /ˈdaɪməndz/
plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading The accommodating Frenchman showed him a good many samples of South African, Brazilian, and Indian stones, and explained to him the various tests which were used to determine their value.
Fairholme's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RUE BARBETTE Pending Fairholme's arrival, Brett was not idle.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading By skilful inquiry he ascertained a good deal about precious stones, both in their crude and their finished states.
FrenchmannounUS /ˈfrentʃmæn/
a person of French nationality
From this reading The accommodating Frenchman showed him a good many samples of South African, Brazilian, and Indian stones, and explained to him the various tests which were used to determine their value.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading By skilful inquiry he ascertained a good deal about precious stones, both in their crude and their finished states.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Brett had no special object in seeking this information.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RUE BARBETTE Pending Fairholme's arrival, Brett was not idle.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The accommodating Frenchman showed him a good many samples of South African, Brazilian, and Indian stones, and explained to him the various tests which were used to determine their value.
not in action or at work
From this reading WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RUE BARBETTE Pending Fairholme's arrival, Brett was not idle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RUE BARBETTE Pending Fairholme's arrival, Brett was not idle.
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading The accommodating Frenchman showed him a good many samples of South African, Brazilian, and Indian stones, and explained to him the various tests which were used to determine their value.
a message received and understood
From this reading Brett had no special object in seeking this information.
a search for knowledge
From this reading By skilful inquiry he ascertained a good deal about precious stones, both in their crude and their finished states.
jewellernoun
someone who makes jewelry
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The accommodating Frenchman showed him a good many samples of South African, Brazilian, and Indian stones, and explained to him the various tests which were used to determine their value.
not any; not one
From this reading Brett had no special object in seeking this information.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RUE BARBETTE Pending Fairholme's arrival, Brett was not idle.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading Brett had no special object in seeking this information.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
Paix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
PendingadjectiveUS /ˈpendɪŋ/
awaiting conclusion or confirmation
From this reading WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RUE BARBETTE Pending Fairholme's arrival, Brett was not idle.
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading By skilful inquiry he ascertained a good deal about precious stones, both in their crude and their finished states.
prominentadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːmənənt/
having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
purchasesnounUS /ˈpɜːrtʃəsəz/
plural of “purchase” — the acquisition of something for payment
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
European strong-scented perennial herb with grey-green bitter-tasting leaves; an irritant similar to poison ivy
From this reading WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RUE BARBETTE Pending Fairholme's arrival, Brett was not idle.
samplesnounUS /ˈsæmpəlz/
plural of “sample” — a small part of something intended as representative of the whole
From this reading The accommodating Frenchman showed him a good many samples of South African, Brazilian, and Indian stones, and explained to him the various tests which were used to determine their value.
the act of searching for something
From this reading Brett had no special object in seeking this information.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The accommodating Frenchman showed him a good many samples of South African, Brazilian, and Indian stones, and explained to him the various tests which were used to determine their value.
skilfuladjective
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading By skilful inquiry he ascertained a good deal about precious stones, both in their crude and their finished states.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The accommodating Frenchman showed him a good many samples of South African, Brazilian, and Indian stones, and explained to him the various tests which were used to determine their value.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Brett had no special object in seeking this information.
plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading By skilful inquiry he ascertained a good deal about precious stones, both in their crude and their finished states.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading By skilful inquiry he ascertained a good deal about precious stones, both in their crude and their finished states.
testsnounUS /tests/
plural of “test” — trying something to find out about it
From this reading The accommodating Frenchman showed him a good many samples of South African, Brazilian, and Indian stones, and explained to him the various tests which were used to determine their value.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RUE BARBETTE Pending Fairholme's arrival, Brett was not idle.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading By skilful inquiry he ascertained a good deal about precious stones, both in their crude and their finished states.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Brett had no special object in seeking this information.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
trivialadjectiveUS /ˈtrɪviəl/
(informal) small and of little importance
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading The accommodating Frenchman showed him a good many samples of South African, Brazilian, and Indian stones, and explained to him the various tests which were used to determine their value.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading The accommodating Frenchman showed him a good many samples of South African, Brazilian, and Indian stones, and explained to him the various tests which were used to determine their value.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading The accommodating Frenchman showed him a good many samples of South African, Brazilian, and Indian stones, and explained to him the various tests which were used to determine their value.
past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading He visited a prominent jeweller in the Rue de la Paix, and, after making some trivial purchases, led the conversation to the question of diamonds.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RUE BARBETTE Pending Fairholme's arrival, Brett was not idle.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The accommodating Frenchman showed him a good many samples of South African, Brazilian, and Indian stones, and explained to him the various tests which were used to determine their value.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WHAT HAPPENED IN THE RUE BARBETTE Pending Fairholme's arrival, Brett was not idle.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The accommodating Frenchman showed him a good many samples of South African, Brazilian, and Indian stones, and explained to him the various tests which were used to determine their value.
